Nothing can separate me from my relationship with God. Absolutely nothing. I've staked my life on it, put all my chickens in one basket, would take it to the bank, and whatever else, to prove it,

But IF (and I want to emphasize IF, as in I.F., I should ever lose my faith, perish the thought, it will be because of my sewing machine. Not a certain person, not something I've stumbled over doctrinally, not because of an incident or accident or illness, none of these. Only one thing: the worst invention ever foisted on the human race with the pretense of helping poor, tired, old, innocent housewives like me: my Sears sewing machine.

Yesterday, after numerous attempts at sewing a seam (not a gown or tuxedo or man's suit, mind you, just a simple seam, the thingys that hold the bobbin fell out with all those parts that don't fit each other and were designed to harass and badger seamstresses since sewing machines were first invented by Adolph Hitler to drive the female half of the world C.R.A.Z.Y. !!!

I had lost my manual, so forget that. John refused to help after he drove the sewing machine needle through his first knuckle and his last nerve, and after an hour I went on YouTube for a tutorial which was taught by someone with a barely discernible foreign accent who kept saying, "I don't know the name of this part, but you get my drift." After the tenth time, I got her drift all right and she got some choice words from me before I shut her off.

Admittedly, I was short-changed when they passed out technology skills to newborns. I believe firmly every single appliance or machine, computer, whatever, should only have 2 buttons: Off and On. Nothing more!

My bobbin with lavender thread still sits on my counter, the seam still needs to be sewed up and I'm lying in the corner in a fetal position, sucking my thumb (the one that bled while I tried to force that bobbin in with my hammer), trying to decide how much to sell that dreadful sewing machine for.

Any takers?

Mariane Holbrook

"Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23

The only sewing machine Carol ever had in our house was given to her 50 years ago my an elderly lady who decided to give up sewing. That machine was so old it was probably used to sew the seams of civil war uniforms.

Originally it was a Singer treadle operated machine, but had been converted to a motor drive just before we Carol took possession of it. As far as I know, it worked quite well. You just plug it in, and go.

I stripped the old finish off of it, sanded it smooth, and re-stained it to look pretty good. It is still taking up floor space in the house. I have even used it myself, but don't let that little fact get around.

Don

John 14:6Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

Once upon a time, I had a sewing machine, and it didn't take long for me to find out I had no gift in that direction---none! The cabinet was used as a table in the guest bedroom for years. I don't even know what ever happened to the hateful thing!

I had to get rid of my sewing machine about 2 years ago. I had it for 15-20 years and it was a good machine for most of that time. But in the end, it would not hold the bobbin tension and the cord to the foot pedal went bad. At one point I needed a new part (very small pad on the bottom to level the machine) and asked the worker at the Singer store the age of the machine. That model was made for only three years; the year I was born, the year before and the year after. It was 25-30 years old when I got the machine. I have known others with the same model of Singer who also had good luck with their machine. One friend that had a sewing business said that she would prefer an older machine like that for straight stitching. I have been wanting a new sewing machine ever since that one died, but now have no place to put one in the apartment.

Mariane and Verna, you can stop throwing tomatoes at me. Wow, one of you sure has an arm!

"We are not sinners because we sin, we sin because we are sinners."

You have wearied the LORD with your words. “How have we wearied him?” you ask. By saying, “All who do evil are good in the eyes of the LORD, and he is pleased with them” or “Where is the God of justice?” Malachi 2:17

Although the southern folks here probably pick ripe tomatoes from their back yard gardens in January, those of us living in the frozen northland must wait for the late weeks of summer to enjoy such things.

I am one Minnesotan who can hardly wait for some locally grown, fresh picked tomatoes, green beans, sweet corn, cantaloupe, and more. Yummm!

Does anyone else from "up north" agree with me?

Don

John 14:6Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

Figure it out!Only 5% of Stanford University graduates figured it out.Can you answer all seven of the following questionsWith the same word?

1. The word has seven letters….

2. Preceded God…

3. Greater than God…

4. More Evil than the devil…

5. All poor people have it…

6. Wealthy people need it….

7. If you eat it, you will die.Did you figure it out?Try hard before looking at the answers

Did you get it yet?

Try really really hard.Give up?

Brace yourself for the answer….

The Answer is:

NOTHING!

NOTHING has 7 letters. NOTHING preceded God. NOTHING is greater than God. NOTHING is more Evil than the devil. All poor people have NOTHING. Wealthy people need NOTHING. If you eat NOTHING, you will die..Send this brain-teaser to your smart friendsAnd see if they can answer it…….

[/b]

Mariane Holbrook

"Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23

I was looking over my pages of true life stories today, and found this one that you might find humorous.

Don

The Minnesota Twins played the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1965 World Series for baseball's elite championship. My employer had managed to purchase four tickets for each of the home games played at the old Met Stadium. I was offered a pair of tickets for Carol and me to attend one of the games.

Although the stadium was only a 20-30 minute drive from my home, I refused the offer. I simply didn't want to deal with the traffic, the crowds, and the noise of screaming fans. Besides, I didn’t have a great love for baseball.

OH, WHAT WAS I THINKING!!!

During all of her adult life, Carol was an enthusiastic baseball fan. When I told her what I had done, she went bananas. I still have a vivid memory of being chained to the doghouse for a very long time.

John 14:6Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

I haven't washed away yet---but almost. At least, we see the sun usually a little while every day. That keeps me same---almost. We have had some rain 21 of the last 22 days.

Don, I'm glad you got out of the doghouse. My husband was given a ticket years ago to a race--which he didn't take advantage of--but that was fine with me. Our daughter went once when she was young, and when I asked her what it was like, she said, "Zoom, zoom, zoom and tar on your arms!"

Did I mention how disappointed I was that the editor of "God Makes Lemonade" books changed my story that I had submitted so much that I refused it? It was the worst cut and slice job I've ever seen! So the editorial assistant did it over again, only this time it was worse. They wanted me to add things that were absolutely not true, just to make the story more interesting. So I again refused and I asked them to release me from the other stories I had sent to them for consideration.

So I submitted it to Chicken Soup for the Soul publishers and they accepted it, but wanted me to read through the final copy for my approval. When it came today, I was stunned and so happy! They had accepted it exactly as I submitted it. Not even one word was changed! I feel like sending that copy to "God Makes Lemonade" but of course I won't. Besides, both God Makes Lemonade publishers and also Chicken Soup for the Soul publishers are both coming out with a book about miracle later this year so you know good and well the publishers of God Makes Lemonade will check out what their competitor (Chicken Soup) have included in their book, and there will be my story, just as it was first written. He he. I love it!

I need to get something started for dinner. I think it's gonna be chicken salad with grapes, apples, pecans, and dried cranberries.

Love you guys and gals!

Mariane Holbrook

"Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23

You go, Mariane! You know what you want in --or don't want in your stories--and I'm glad you stuck to your guns. I think Chicken Soup has a wider audience anyway. I sent one to God Makes Lemonade for the book---but I haven't had a response. Apparently I don't have the "touch."

The rain has gone for now and SUMMER is here, for sure!

Back to the tomato conversation. I can't wait to get some from my friend's garden--if the squirrels haven't finished them off!

It's too hot to laugh and generate more energy, but consider this a pick-me-up, at least:

Q: My Etch-A-Sketch has a distorted display. What should I do?A: Pick it up and shake it.

Q: My Etch-A-Sketch has these funny little lines all over the screen.A: Pick it up and shake it.

Q: How do I turn my Etch-A-Sketch off?A: Pick it up and shake it. Set it down.

Q: My Etch-A-Sketch has lines that prevent me from doing my art project.A: Pick it up and shake it.

Q: How do I delete a document from my Etch-A-Sketch?A: Pick it up and shake it.

Q: How do I keep from losing my Etch-A-Sketch document?A: Stop shaking it.

I do have a prayer request, too:

Please pray for this wonderful Scout, my grand nephew Noah. He's at the Boy Scout Jamboree out east, it is very hot weather, and today (3:45 our MN time) he is scheduled to take the grueling Navy Seal test! Thanks muchly!